SEB COE is tipping Eilidh Child to act as a Seventies throwback and spearhead the emergence of a new generation of Scottish track talent at the Commonwealth Games.

Olympic legend Coe can vividly recall the Scots trio of Ian and Lachie Stewart and Rosie Stirling blazing on to the scene at the 1970 Commonwealths in Edinburgh.

It proved a springboard to successful international careers and Coe is convinced the new breed can do the same with the help of home advantage at Glasgow 2014.

Childs may have flopped at the London Olympics, failing to reach the 400 metres hurdles final, but Coe reckons the Perthshire ace can still go on to big things. And he’ll be a keen spectator when she goes for glory at the European Indoor Championships in Sweden this weekend.

Coe, who was in Glasgow yesterday to throw his weight behind the city’s bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympics, said: “The 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh was the making of Ian Stewart, Lachie Stewart and Rosie Stirling.

“Some fantastic athletes came through in their own backyard and went on to enjoy strong international careers. That inevitably happens and hopefully the same applies to Glasgow.

“Eilidh is very talented and the Commonwealth Games is a big opportunity with a home crowd.

“She maybe hoped to do better in London but that is systematic of the scale and pressure brought to domestic competitors. It’s tough for them to have the focus of attention in the lead-up to a major event.

“But Eilidh is strong enough to show she’s learned from that experience and Glasgow 2014 is a good opportunity.

“She can also medal at the Euro indoors this weekend. I’ll be there and Scotland has a good percentage in that team.”

Coe spoke to kids at Shawlands Academy in Glasgow yesterday as the city bids to beat Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Medellin in Colombia for the right to host the Youth Olympics.

He knows the passion of the Glasgow people thanks to a trip to watch his beloved Chelsea play Rangers.

Coe added: “I’ve been to Hampden and I watched Chelsea play at Ibrox in a pre-season friendly which was an unbelievable atmosphere.

“The values the Youth Games organisers look for are passion, the role sport plays in the community and the opportunity to drive their broader messages much deeper and globally.

“Glasgow has all of those things and that’s what the bid team will be trumpeting from the rooftops.”